Skip to main navigationSkip to main content
The University of Southampton
News

Partnership provides free science and technology inspiration for Southampton’s school children

Published: 25 November 2011

A new partnership between the University of Southampton and INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium will provide unlimited free entry to INTECH for schoolchildren in Southampton on an organised school trip.

Working with INTECH and Southampton City Council, the University has agreed to fund the admission charges previously supported by Southampton City Council, to enable children (and their teachers) from Southampton’s schools to continue to enjoy the experience provided by INTECH.

Last academic year (01 September 2010 – 01 August 2011) there were over 3,000 school visitors from 40 different schools. INTECH’s total school visitor numbers continue to grow, with a record number of 30,646 being achieved last year.

Over the next five years, the University will provide financial support for Southampton school visits to INTECH through its Student Centeredness Fund. In turn, INTECH will provide an area in which the University will promote its research excellence through a range of activities, as a source of inspiration in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects. INTECH will also provide its facilities for activities organised by the University.

Schoolchildren at INTECH

Professor Debra Humphris, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Southampton: comments: “We are committed to making a difference in our City by engaging with school students to create memorable experiences and motivate them to explore and discover more about the STEM subjects. It is thanks to the passion and commitment of colleagues in the University, in particular Professor Malcolm Coe from Physics and Astronomy, that young people can continue to benefit from this experience, which has been generously supported over the last nine years by Southampton City Council.”

“The University and INTECH have associations with a large number of schools and by working together we can raise the aspirations of students of all social, ethnic and educational backgrounds.”

Phil Winfield, INTECH’s Director said: “Feedback from students and teachers continues to confirm that visits to INTECH are engaging and inspirational and so we are delighted that the University has offered this support which encourages the City’s schools to use INTECH’s facilities. We also welcome the opportunity to work more closely with the University.”

Privacy Settings